Hot water dispenser

ABSTRACT

A hot water dispensing system includes a water tank having a heat source for heating water in the tank. The tank has a cold water inlet and a hot water outlet. An expansion chamber is connected to the water tank and situated above the water tank for receiving heated water from the water tank.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a non-provisional application of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/710,953, filed on Aug. 24, 2005, which is incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

Devices for dispensing instant hot water typically consist of two main parts: a faucet that would be situated above a sink for dispensing the liquid as desired, and another unit for mounting below the sink so it is out of view of the user and does not occupy counter space. The under-sink unit for an instant hot water dispenser has a water heater and a tank for holding hot water connected to the faucet.

In typical under-sink hot water dispensers, the tank includes two tanks or chambers: a main chamber in which water is heated and an expansion chamber into which water being heated in the main chamber is allowed to expand. When hot water is drawn from the tank due to opening of the faucet, it is necessary to withdraw the hot water from the expansion chamber of the tank to provide for expansion of the replenishment cold water that is supplied to the main tank chamber from the building water system. This expanded water is evacuated from the expansion chamber via an aspiration vacuum formed by a venturi system activated by the incoming stream of cold water during each use of the dispenser.

Known dispensers locate the expansion chamber either below or along side the main water heating tank. As the water levels in the expansion chamber and main heating chamber balance out, a void or air space develops in the main heating tank. During a draw, the void or air space developed in the main heating tank needs to be filled before water actually exits the tank. Depending on the volume of the air space developed in the heating tank, there can be a significant delay (1 to 15 seconds in some known systems) before hot water flows from the spout. This delay in flow is often seen as a malfunction of the unit and that can increase service calls and reduce customer satisfaction.

The teachings of the present disclosure address shortcomings associated with the prior art.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure, a water heating system includes a water tank having a heat source for heating water in the tank. The tank has an inlet and an outlet, with an expansion chamber connected to the water tank. The water heating system typically includes a faucet connected to the outlet for dispensing hot water for use in making hot food or beverage items. The expansion chamber is situated above the water tank for receiving heated water from the water tank such that water flows from the expansion chamber to the water tank when water is expelled from the water tank via the outlet.

In certain exemplary embodiments, the expansion chamber includes a generally funnel-shaped portion having a check ball situated therein. The funnel-shaped portion is connected to the inlet of the tank such that water flows from the expansion chamber, though the funnel-shaped portion to the inlet and into the tank. An aspirator is connected to the inlet so that that water flowing into the tank through the inlet draws water into the tank from the expansion chamber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a water dispensing system in accordance with teachings of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a water heating unit for the dispensing system shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the water heating unit.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are sectional views of portions of the water heating unit.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an expansion chamber of the water heating unit.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below. In the interest of clarity, not all features of an actual implementation are described in this specification. It will of course be appreciated that in the development of any such actual embodiment, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which will vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.

FIG. 1 generally illustrates portions of a typical hot water dispensing system 100. The dispensing system 100 includes a faucet 110 that would be situated above a sink for dispensing the liquid as desired, and an under-sink unit 112 for mounting below the sink so it is out of view of the user and does not occupy counter space. The faucet 110 includes an arched spout 114 and one or more actuation handles 116,117. In a unit that dispenses both hot and cold water, for example, one handle 116 would be activated to dispense the hot water and the other handle 117 would be for dispensing cold water.

The under sink unit 112 includes a water heating unit, which is shown in further detail in FIGS. 2-6. A main tank or chamber 120 for heating water is situated inside the unit 112, with a heater 122 positioned inside the tank 120. In one embodiment, the tank 120 is made of stainless steel. The heater 122 is connected to a thermostat that typically maintains the water temperature at around 190° F. A water inlet fitting 132 is connectable to a water supply to provide water to the heating chamber 120. In units that dispense both hot and cold water, the water supply line may be further connected to the faucet assembly 110 to provide cold water to be dispensed in addition to supplying the heating unit 112 via the inlet tube 132. Hot water from the heating chamber 120 is delivered to the faucet assembly 110 through a tube connected to an outlet 136.

The tank 120 is connected to an expansion chamber 130 into which supply water that is heated in the tank 120 can expand. In the illustrated embodiment, the expansion chamber 130 is made of plastic, though it may be made of other materials. The expansion chamber 130 is vented to the atmosphere by way of a vent tube 140. When hot water is drawn from the tank 110 by activating the dispensing lever 116, it is necessary to withdraw the hot water from the expansion chamber 130 to provide for expansion of the replenishment cold water that is supplied to the tank 120. When the dispensing lever 116 is activated it does not directly control dispensing of hot water; rather, it supplies cold water to the tank 120 to thereby force hot water out at the top of the tank 120 via the outlet 136.

In the illustrated embodiment, the expansion chamber 130 is positioned directly above the heating chamber 120, rather than along side or below the heating chamber as in known products. After a water draw, the tank 120 remains full due to the location of the expansion chamber 130 above the tank 120, eliminating water flow delays associated with a void at the top of the tank.

In the exemplary illustrated embodiment, the expansion chamber 130 is composed of upper and lower parts 130 a, 130 b with o-rings 150,151 sealing the parts 130 a, 130 b when assembled. FIG. 6 shows the expansion chamber 130 assembled. The lower part 130 b includes a generally funnel-shaped portion 154 extending below the lower part 130 b. A check ball 156 is received in the portion 154. The illustrated heating tank 120 is also composed of top and bottom portions 120 a, 120 b with a seal 158 therebetween. The heater 122 extends into the heating tank 120 and is sealed with a gasket 160.

The inlet 132 is connected to an aspirator 170, which is connected to a baffle 172 that directs incoming water to the bottom of the tank 120. A tube 174 connects the aspirator 170 to the funnel-shaped portion 154 of the expansion chamber 130. Cold supply water flows into the aspirator 170 from the inlet 132. The aspirator 170 is structured to define a ventruri restriction therein, which restricts the flow through the aspirator 170. The restriction causes an increase of flow velocity, which is accompanied by reduced pressure of the water relative to the pressure of the hot water in the expansion chamber 130. Consequently, hot water from the expansion chamber 130 is drawn into the tank 120 through the tube 174. The incoming stream of water from the expansion chamber 130 and the supply water forces hot water out of the tank 120 and up the outlet tube 136 to be discharged from the faucet spout 114.

Once all of the water is drawn out of the expansion chamber 130 into the tank 120, the check ball 156 seats at the bottom of the funnel-shaped portion 154, blocking the tube 174 to prevent air from entering the system. When hot water is not being dispensed through the faucet 110, water is heated in the tank 120, and the heated water expands from the tank 120, up the aspirator 142 and into the expansion chamber 130 through the tube 174. As the heated water enters the funnel-shaped portion 154 of the expansion chamber 130, the check ball 154 floats up so water can enter the expansion chamber 130.

The particular embodiments disclosed above are illustrative only, as the invention may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein. Furthermore, no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown, other than as described in the claims below. It is therefore evident that the particular embodiments disclosed above may be altered or modified and all such variations are considered within the scope and spirit of the invention. 

1. A water heating system, comprising: a water tank having a heat source for heating water in the tank, the tank having an inlet and an outlet; and an expansion chamber connected to the water tank and situated above the water tank for receiving heated water from the water tank, such that water flows from the expansion chamber to the water tank when water is expelled from the water tank via the outlet.
 2. The water heating system of claim 1, wherein the water tank is made of stainless steel.
 3. The water heating system of claim 1, wherein the expansion chamber is made of stainless steel.
 4. The water heating system of claim 1, wherein the expansion chamber includes a generally funnel-shaped portion having a check ball situated therein.
 5. The water heating system of claim 4, wherein the funnel-shaped portion is connected to the inlet of the tank such that water flows from the expansion chamber, though the funnel-shaped portion to the inlet and into the tank.
 6. The water heating system of claim 5, further comprising an aspirator connected to the inlet, such that water flowing into the tank through the inlet draws water into the tank from the expansion chamber.
 7. The water heating system of claim 1, wherein the expansion chamber includes a vent tube.
 8. The water heating system of claim 1, wherein the hot water inlet is situated at the top of the tank.
 9. The water heating system of claim 1, further comprising a faucet connected to the outlet. 